Falling to Earth: An Apollo 15 Astronaut's Journey to the Moon [signed copy] with signed poem insert.

Worden, Al; French, Francis

ISBN 10: 158834309X / ISBN 13: 9781588343093

Published by U.S.A.: Smithsonian Books, 2011

About this Item

Hardcover with DJ. Black spine, gray paper over boards. Pictorial DJ. No date on title page. Copyright page dated 2011. Number line says "First edition 15 14 13 12 11 1 2 3 4 5". 300 pages. Very good condition, inside and out. Signed on the half title page, "Al Worden, Apollo 15." Also signed by Francis French, the co-author. Tucked inside is a single page poem by Worden, with photo of the launch on the left side. It appears to be signed by Worden as well, but the signature there might be pre-printed. Please email with questions or to request photos. Worden was the Command Module Pilot on Apollo 15. He orbited the moon alone while David Scott and James Irwin went to the surface.

Seller Inventory # R-261

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Falling to Earth: An Apollo 15 Astronaut's Journey to the Moon [signed copy] with signed poem insert.
• Publisher: U.S.A.: Smithsonian Books
• Publication Date: 2011
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 158834309X
• ISBN 13: 9781588343093
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: Very Good
• Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good
• Signed: Signed by Author(s)
• Seller catalogs:
  • NASA/Space

About this title

Synopsis

As command module pilot for the Apollo 15 mission to the moon in 1971, Al Worden flew on what is widely regarded as the greatest exploration mission that humans have ever attempted. He spent six days orbiting the moon, including three days completely alone, the most isolated human in existence. During the return from the moon to earth he also conducted the first spacewalk in deep space, becoming the first human ever to see both the entire earth and moon simply by turning his head. The Apollo 15 flight capped an already-impressive career as an astronaut, including important work on the pioneering Apollo 9 and Apollo 12 missions, as well as the perilous flight of Apollo 13.

Nine months after his return from the moon, Worden received a phone call telling him he was fired and ordering him out of his office by the end of the week. He refused to leave.

What happened in those nine months, from being honored with parades and meetings with world leaders to being unceremoniously fired, has been a source of much speculation for four decades. Worden has never before told the full story around the dramatic events that shook NASA and ended his spaceflight career. Readers will learn them here for the first time, along with the exhilarating account of what it is like to journey to the moon and back. It's an unprecedentedly candid account of what it was like to be an Apollo astronaut, with all its glory but also its pitfalls.

About the Author

AL WORDEN served as a support crew member for Apollo 9, backup command module pilot for Apollo 12, and command module pilot for Apollo 15's mission July 26 - August 7, 1971. After retirement from active duty in 1975, Worden spent years in private industry before becoming the Chair of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation.  He lives in Vero Beach, Florida. FRANCIS FRENCH is director of education for the San Diego Air & Space Museum and co-author of the award-winning books Into that Silent Sea and In the Shadow of the Moon.